How 2 Disabled Travel Bloggers Are Growing Their Blog [Interview]
This is an interview with Robyn and Gavin of Two Empty Passports.
Hey, Robyn. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Thank you for including me in your article! I am a travel blogger with a passion for slow travel and helping others with disabilities find accessible adventures.
My husband and I started Two Empty Passports, our travel blog where we share detailed travel itineraries that focus on slow-minded travel, cultural experiences, and exploring less-visited destinations.
I live with multiple chronic illnesses and hidden disabilities, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and POTS. I travel with a wheelchair because my disabilities significantly impact my pain, fatigue, and endurance. I can only walk or stand for short periods or distances.
My goal is to help travelers with disabilities and mobility challenges get the most out of every destination.
How did your blogging journey begin?
My blogging journey began during the pandemic. Stuck at home and longing to travel, my husband and I decided to channel our expertise and passion for travel
We launched Two Empty Passports in late 2022 with the idea of helping others plan memorable trips that worked with their unique travel style.
When researching trips for myself, it’s difficult to find useful information and itineraries for destinations that work with my disabilities. I struggled to follow other traveler’s itineraries because they were too rushed for my body. I would end up in so much pain that would inevitably cause me to miss out on the following day’s activities.
This inspired me to create a travel website for individuals, like myself, who may live with certain limitations but are driven to explore new destinations nonetheless.
We chose a niche that combines slow travel with accessible travel tips and detailed, helpful itineraries, particularly for those living with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mobility challenges.
The name Two Empty Passports represents our desire to explore 50+ countries and fill up our passports with stamps from around the world.
What were you writing about in the early days of the blog vs now?
In the early days, we created destination guides and shared personal travel stories and tips for traveling with pain.
Over the past 2 years, my chronic illnesses and disabilities worsened, to the point that I can only travel with a wheelchair.
As a result, we narrowed our focus to slow travel itineraries, which means creating a detailed day-to-day guide that works for people with disabilities and reduced mobility.
Our itineraries are designed to allow individuals to travel at a slower pace and experience the local culture while leaving time to wander and discover what makes each destination unique.
Our content blends inspiration with actionable advice and accessible travel tips to make travel planning easier for everyone.
How long did it take you to make your first money blogging?
It took about six months to earn our first income through affiliate marketing but didn’t really know what I was doing. It wasn’t until I took an in-depth blogging course that I learned about effective affiliate marketing strategies.
I added affiliate links and call-to-action boxes within our content to promote tours and accommodations. Now, I am part of a handful of affiliate programs that I believe in and feel confident promoting.
How did your first year as a travel blogger go?
Our first year was full of learning and experimentation. We were figuring things out and still finding our voice, and not concerned with income or traffic.
It wasn’t until we took an in-depth blogging course that our site began to grow, and our traffic increased. This was a direct result of the SEO strategies we learned and were implementing on our website and in each blog post.
In two years, our traffic went from 0k to 57k sessions/year. We are so pleased with this as we do not blog full-time.
How much traffic does your blog get now?
Our blog primarily receives traffic from Google searches and gets about 6k sessions/month.
We get a small amount of traffic from social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, as well as our email subscribers.
Next year, we plan to diversify our traffic more with Pinterest.
What’s your current content strategy like?
We prioritize creating detailed travel articles and destination itineraries that appeal to individuals who prefer slow travel or have limited mobility. All of these are based on keyword research.
I prefer to write at least 5 articles about each destination before moving on, although some destinations have 15+ blog posts. I want to ensure my readers can find all the necessary information to plan the best trip possible.
We are continuously updating older posts to keep them optimized with accurate information. I do not follow a blogging schedule, but instead blog part-time to accommodate my health conditions.
When did you get into SEO? And do you optimize every blog post?
We were introduced to SEO through an amazing blogging course we started in January 2023. We were lucky to find this course within five months of launching our website.
Every post is carefully optimized, starting with in-depth keyword research and competitive analysis.
Our most effective SEO strategy has been targeting specific keywords and writing comprehensive, helpful content that benefits my readers.
How have you grown your email list?
Our email list has grown through offering free travel itineraries and guides as lead magnets. We focus on providing value in every newsletter, which has helped us retain and grow our subscriber base.
Any tips on Pinterest?
This year, we will be focusing on Pinterest as a way of diversifying our traffic, so I cannot comment yet on growth strategies.
How much are you currently earning as a blogger?
We currently earn about $375 per month, with 100% of that coming from affiliate marketing.
We plan to diversify by offering small wheelchair-accessible tours, custom travel planning services, and digital products.
If you have ads, what ad network are you using and why?
We’re not yet using ads but plan to apply to an ad network once we meet their traffic requirements.
Do you accept sponsored posts on your blog?
We haven’t accepted sponsored posts yet, but it’s something we’re open to as long as the content aligns with our goals and provides genuine value to our readers.
Do you use AI tools as a blogger in any way?
Yes, I use AI tools for brainstorming content ideas, refining outlines, and researching topics more efficiently. However, all content is written with a personal touch to maintain authenticity.
I believe it’s important to write with your voice and experience. Readers want to know you have first-hand experience and knowledge to share that will help them plan a more successful trip.
How have the recent Google core updates affected you?
Thankfully, we were not significantly affected. Nevertheless, I have learned from my fellow bloggers and see the urgency in diversifying traffic.
Google is unpredictable. Even if you create helpful, well-researched content, at the end of the day, Google is in control.
That’s why diversification is so important, so bloggers can have as much control as possible over where their traffic comes from.
What do you do if you notice a significant drop in traffic?
If we notice a dip, we analyze the affected posts and update them if needed. We also evaluate whether a keyword or content pillar might have a seasonal drop in searches, then adjust our strategy accordingly.
How do you see the future of blogging? What about travel blogging in particular?
Blogging will continue to evolve with AI, algorithm updates, reader preferences, and changing the way information is searched. Travel bloggers will need to differentiate themselves by offering unique perspectives, like personal stories, niche expertise, or specific products tailored to their audience.
Hopefully quality content and adaptability will be key moving forward.
What can bloggers do to maintain their traffic and income in times of uncertainty?
Blogging is a marathon on a very bumpy road. It’s important to diversify your traffic with Pinterest and Facebook, grow an email list, and explore multiple income streams.
Staying updated on industry changes and consistently creating high-value content are also crucial.
What’s next for you and Two Empty Passports?
We will continue to diversify our traffic with Pinterest next year, grow our custom travel planning services, and plan to create digital products that will help disabled travelers plan their accessible dream vacations.
